Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1887-05-27
CHAPTER TX.


When opened my eyes again found my
self lying on a skin mat, not far from tho fire
round which we had been gathered for the
dreadful feast Near me lay Leo, apparently
in u swoon, and over him was bending the
tall form of the girl Ustane, who was wash
ing deep spear wound In his side with water
preparatory to binding it up with linen.
Leaning against the wall of the cave behind
her was Job, apparently unhurt, but bruised
md trembling. On the other side Of the fire,
tossed this way and that, as though they had
thrown themselves down TO sleep in some mo-
ment Of absolute exhaustion, were the bodies
of those he had killed in our frightful strug-
gle for life. / counted them: there were
twelve, besides the woman and the corpse Of
poor Mahomed. who had died by my hand,
which, the fire stained pot by its side, was
placed at the end of the irregular line. To
the left, a body OF men were engaged in bind
ing the arms OF the survivors OF the cannibals
behind them, and then fastening them two
and two The villains were submitting with
a look of sulky Indifference upon their faces
that accorded i'll with the bafIled fury that
CLEANED in their somber eyes In front of
these men, directing their operations, stood
no other than our friend Billali looking
rather tired, but particularly patriarchal with
his flowing beard, and as cool and uncon-
cerned as though he were experimenting thu
cutting up OF an OK.
Presently he turned. and perceiving that /
was sitting up, advanced to me, and, with
the utmost courtesy, said that he trusted that
felt better. l answered that at present
scarcely know how felt, except that l ached
all over
Then he bent down and examined Leo's
wound. ats a nasty cut" he said; but the
spear has not pierced tho entrnils. He will
recover"
Thanks to your arrival, my father"
answered. "In another minute we should all
have been beyond the reach Of recovery, for
those devils OF yours would have slain us rs
they would have slain our servant" and /
pointed toward Mahomed
The old man ground his teeth, and saw
an extraordinary expression OF malignity
light up his eyes.
"Fear not, my son." he answered.
vengeance shall be taken on them such as
would make the flesh twist upon the bones
merely to hear Of it. To She they shall 20,
and her vengeance shall be worthy of her
greatness. That man, pointing to Mahomed,
81 tell you that man would have died merci-
full death to the death these hyena men shall
die. Tell me, pray of thee, how it cainO
about.n
In few words slSetched what had hap
pened.
"Ah, so," he answered "Thou seest, my
son, here there is a custom that II stranger
comes into this country he may DO slain by
the pot and eaten"
at is hospitality turned upside down."
answered. feebly. an our country we epter-
tain stranger and give him food to eat
Here ye eat him, and arc entertained"
ut Is a CUSTOM he answered, with shrug.
Myself / think 1t an evil one but Them he
added, by an afterthought, ~ do not like the
taste Of strangers, especially after they have
wandered through the swamps and lived ON
wild fowl. When She-who-must- be-obeyed
sent orders that We were to be saved, she said
naught of the black man; therefore, being
hyenns, these men lusted after his flesh, and
the woman 1t was whom thou didst rightly
slny who put II into their evil hearts TO hot.
pot him. We'll, they win have their reward.
Better for them would II DO II they had never
seen the light than that they should stand bo-
fore She in her terrible anger. Happy are
those OF them that died by your hands.
"Ah, he went ON, ''it was gallant eight
that 20 fought. Knowest thou that thou,